According to Calciomercato, Jorge Mendes now wants to engineer a swap deal involving Everton playmaker James Rodriguez and AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao.
It’s suggested that Everton have been in contact over a deal for Leao in recent months whilst Milan fancy Rodriguez as a replacement for Hakan Calhanoglu.
With that in mind, Mendes now wants to engineer a swap deal between the two clubs given that he represents both players.
What would Leao offer to Everton?
If Moise Kean doesn’t have a future at Everton – which doesn’t seem to have been decided yet – then the Toffees will need to find a new striker.
Leao could be that player, offering real pace in the final third. Last season, the former Sporting and Lille forward hit six goals and six assists in 30 league games.
Once branded ‘the Portuguese Mbappe’ by Gerard Lopez at Lille, Leao still has real potential at just 22, and Everton may well be tempted.
Would Everton let Rodriguez go?
Rodriguez was clearly a Carlo Ancelotti signing; the Italian had him at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, so the Everton reunion wasn’t a huge shock.
Rodriguez managed six goals and four assists last season, but missed 15 Premier League games. Niggling injuries were a problem, and they’re unlikely to disappear with the Colombian just weeks away from turning 30.
With Ancelotti gone, Rodriguez’s future is unclear. If Everton can land a talented young attacker in a swap for Rodriguez, they may well be tempted to move the attacking midfielder on after just one year on Merseyside.
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